In Ghana, the number of HIV positive women who received a complete course of ART for PMTCT has been very low and inconsistent over the last three years In the Ashanti Region, only 22.2% of HIV positive women in need
received ART attended ART centres for medication in 2010. Certainly appropriate strategy is required to improve use of ART centres. Thus the study aimed at exploring HIV positive women perception of ART centres
specifically service quality and its implication on their use of ART centres.
eight ART centres in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Data was collected from a total of 265 HIV positive women who
had being on ARVs for treatment or prophylaxis technique. The respondents were randomly sampled for the study.
The data was collected using semi structured questionnaires and focus group discussions (FGDs) using tape recorders
and interviews guides. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 was used to analyse the data.
Generally the respondents perceived the service quality as satisfactory as they are satisfied with the care given
them by the staff of the ART centres. However, long waiting times, unavailability of drugs and lack of follow
ups have been mentioned by the respondents are key barriers to barriers to ART centre attendance by the respondents.
Thus efforts should be made to reduce waiting time of patients, and make drug available. Future study should be a
multidimensional study which would critically examine all barriers influencing access to ART.

Description:

An article published by Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare, Vol 2, No.11, 2012